Low content books, such as notebooks, journals, planners, and coloring books, have become a popular passive income stream for many publishers on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. However, creating these books is only half the battle. Ensuring they are discoverable by potential buyers is equally crucial. This is where keyword validation comes in. A well-thought-out keyword strategy can make your book stand out in a crowded marketplace, driving more traffic and sales. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through a simple, step-by-step process for validating keywords for your low content books on KDP.

Understanding Low Content Books

What Are Low Content Books?

Low content books are those that have minimal text and content, often focusing on photos, templates, or information compilations. Examples include:

• Notebooks
• Journals
• Planners
• Coloring Books
• Puzzle Books

These books are primarily published through Amazon KDP but can also be published on other platforms like Barnes & Noble Press.

Benefits of Low Content Books

• Low Startup Costs: Very little upfront investment is needed to get started.
• Ease of Creation: You can use free or inexpensive software and tools to put together books quickly.
• Passive Income: Once published, books can continue earning royalties with minimal maintenance.
• Print-on-Demand: No need to print and hold book inventory; books are printed when ordered.
• Scalability: You can publish an unlimited number of books and scale revenue.

Challenges in Low Content Publishing

• Saturated Market: Lots of competition in many low content niches.
• Market Trends: Need to stay on top of shifts in demand and competition.
• Promotion: Hard to get sales and visibility without advertising and marketing.
• Platform Changes: Policy changes could affect the types of books allowed.
• Engagement: Earnings depend on the number of pages read; need engagement.

Why Keyword Validation Matters

Keyword validation ensures that your book is discoverable by the right audience. Without proper keywords, even the best-designed low content books can get lost in the vast sea of Amazon’s catalog. Validating keywords helps you:

• Identify high-traffic search terms
• Understand what potential buyers are looking for
• Optimize your book’s metadata for better visibility
• Increase the chances of your book ranking higher in search results

Step-by-Step Keyword Validation Process

Step 1: Brainstorm Potential Keywords

Start by brainstorming a list of keywords that readers might use to find books like yours. Think about:

• Genre and Subgenre: What genre does your book fall into? Are there any subgenres that are relevant?
• Topics: What specific topics or themes does your book cover?
• User Intent: What are readers looking for when they search for books like yours?

For example, if you’re creating a planner, potential keywords could include “daily planner,” “academic planner,” “goal-setting planner,” and so on.

Step 2: Use Amazon’s Autocomplete Feature

Amazon’s autocomplete feature is a powerful tool for discovering additional keyword variations. Start typing your main keyword into Amazon’s search bar and note the suggestions that appear. These suggestions are based on actual search queries from Amazon users, making them valuable for keyword validation.

For example, typing “journal” into the search bar might bring up suggestions like “journal for women,” “journal for kids,” “journal with prompts,” etc.

Step 3: Leverage Keyword Research Tools

Several tools can help you find more keyword ideas and validate their search volume and competitiveness. Some popular options include:

• Publisher Rocket: Provides data on Amazon keywords, including search volume, competition, and potential earnings.
• KDP Spy: Helps you see what keywords other KDP publishers are using successfully.
• Google Keyword Planner: Although primarily for Google Ads, it can give you insights into keyword search volume and trends.

Use these tools to expand your list of keywords and gather data on their potential effectiveness.

Step 4: Analyze Keyword Competitiveness

Not all keywords are created equal. Some may have high search volumes but also high competition, making it difficult for your book to rank. Others may have lower search volumes but less competition, giving you a better chance to stand out. Use the data from your keyword research tools to analyze:

• Search Volume: How many people are searching for this keyword each month?
• Competition: How many other books are targeting this keyword?
• Relevance: How closely does this keyword match your book’s content and target audience?

Focus on finding a balance between search volume and competition. Long-tail keywords (more specific phrases) often have lower competition and can be highly effective.

Step 5: Check Keywords in Amazon’s Search Results

Once you have a list of potential keywords, it’s time to validate them directly on Amazon. Search for each keyword and analyze the top results. Pay attention to:

• Number of Results: How many books are competing for this keyword?
• Top Listings: What do the top-ranking books have in common? Look at their titles, subtitles, descriptions, and covers.
• Sales Rank: How well are the top-ranking books selling? A lower sales rank indicates higher sales volume.

This will give you a sense of how competitive each keyword is and whether your book has a chance to rank well.

Step 6: Optimize Your Book’s Metadata

With your validated keywords in hand, it’s time to optimize your book’s metadata. This includes:

• Title: Include your primary keyword in the title if possible.
• Subtitle: Use additional keywords to provide more context and attract more searches.
• Description: Write a compelling description that incorporates your keywords naturally.
• Keywords: Enter your validated keywords into the keyword fields on KDP.

Ensure that your metadata is keyword-rich but still reads naturally and provides value to potential buyers.

Step 7: Monitor and Adjust

Keyword validation is an ongoing process. After publishing your book, monitor its performance regularly. Track your sales, rankings, and the effectiveness of your keywords. Be prepared to:

• Update Keywords: If some keywords aren’t performing well, consider replacing them with new ones.
• Refine Metadata: Adjust your title, subtitle, and description as needed to improve visibility.
• Analyze Trends: Keep an eye on market trends and adjust your strategy to stay relevant.

By continually refining your keywords and metadata, you can maintain and improve your book’s discoverability over time.

Tools for Keyword Validation

Here are some recommended tools to help you with your keyword validation process:

• Publisher Rocket: Provides in-depth keyword data, including search volume, competition, and earnings potential.
• KDP Spy: Allows you to see what keywords other successful KDP publishers are using.
• Google Keyword Planner: Offers insights into keyword search volume and trends.
• Amazon Search Bar: Utilize Amazon’s autocomplete feature for real-time keyword suggestions.
• Helium 10: A comprehensive tool suite for Amazon sellers, including keyword research and validation tools.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Focusing Only on High-Volume Keywords

While it’s tempting to target high-volume keywords, they often come with high competition. Instead, balance your strategy with long-tail keywords that are more specific and less competitive.

Ignoring Relevance

It’s crucial to choose keywords that accurately reflect your book’s content. Misleading keywords might get clicks but won’t convert to sales, and could lead to negative reviews.

Neglecting to Monitor and Adjust

Keyword validation isn’t a one-time task. Regularly monitor your book’s performance and be ready to adjust your keywords and metadata as needed to stay competitive.

Conclusion

Keyword validation is a critical step in the success of your low content books on Amazon KDP. By following this simple process—brainstorming keywords, using Amazon’s autocomplete, leveraging keyword research tools, analyzing competitiveness, checking Amazon search results, optimizing your metadata, and continuously monitoring and adjusting—you can ensure your books are discoverable by the right audience. With diligence and smart strategies, you can significantly enhance your book’s visibility and sales, turning your low content book publishing into a profitable venture.

Remember, the key to success in keyword validation is consistency and adaptation. Stay informed about market trends, continuously refine your keywords, and be patient. Over time, your efforts will pay off, and your low content books will reach a wider audience, generating steady passive income.